Georgia revenues up in November - and more Chattanooga region news

Georgia revenues up in November - and more Chattanooga region news

December 11th, 2013by Staff Reports and Wire Service in Local Regional News

Georgia revenues up in November

ATLANTA - Georgia revenues totaled $1.39 billion in November, an increase of 3.6 percent over the same month a year ago.

Gov. Nathan Deal's office reported Tuesday that corporate income tax collections were up, while individual income tax collections were down. Overall, total net tax revenue collections for the fiscal year are $7.34 billion, an increase of 5.4 percent compared to the same point the previous year.

Gross sales tax collections declined $17.25 million compared to last year, continuing a trend after the elimination of the old birthday car tax. The governor's office noted collections have been reduced while motor vehicles fees have increased an average of $55.75 million per month under the new system.

Road projects to begin soon

ATLANTA - Georgia Department of Transportation officials say they're ready to begin working on bridge upgrades and highway resurfacing projects throughout the state.

Officials say an Auburn, Ga.-based company will build a new $6.1 million bridge above CSX railroad tracks on a portion of Georgia Route 90 in western Macon County. The structure is expected to open in May of 2015.

A Marietta-based company will execute a $2.8 million highway resurfacing project on Interstate 75 in Bartow County, which is expected to be completed by September.

Officials say nearly 60 miles' worth of highway will be resurfaced in nine counties throughout the state.

GDOT officials say the department will publicly announce detours, closures and other traffic concerns before road work begins.

Air show to host Thunderbirds

ROME, Ga. - The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds military jet demonstration team will headline an air show at Rome's Russell Regional Airport next year.

The Wings Over North Georgia air show will take place Oct. 18-19, 2014.

"After losing the Thunderbirds in 2013 due to the government sequestration mandates, we are so overwhelmed to have been selected again as one of the demonstration 2014 performance sites," JLC AirShow Management President John Cowman said. "Only a few places in the country receive this great honor; and being a retired USAF veteran, we are so proud to bring this patriotic opportunity to share the USAF Thunderbirds with the people of Rome and Northwest Georgia - Alabama - Tennessee."

Florida bass project successful

NASHVILLE - A project to introduce Florida largemouth bass into Chickamauga Lake has been more successful than researchers originally hoped.

The goal was to mix the southern strain of largemouth bass with Tennessee's native northern bass.

This past spring, the agency took genetic samples from 50 trophy-sized largemouth and found all the fish showed a mix of genes.